C177RG pilot reports a power loss while cruising at 12;000 ft in IMC and elects to continue to desti...

Attributes
ACN	1002530
Time
Date	201203
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZSE.ARTCC
State Reference	WA
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Cardinal 177/177RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Engine
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20 Flight Crew Total 525 Flight Crew Type 340
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural Clearance Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Narrative:

I was in cruise flight at 12;000 ft IMC with no evident airframe icing. I initially lost power and manifold pressure was restored to 10-15 inches by adjusting the mixture. My primary focus was flying the airplane and I likely violated altitude on a number of occasions for the duration of the flight. I did request and was assigned a block to help. However; there were occasions that I was flirting with the lowest assigned altitude to maintain flight. By continuing to manage mixture I was able to continue on and subsequently land at destination. Upon landing I discovered that my air filter was completely iced over in addition to other icing within the cowling. Again; there was no airframe icing. One option to avoid busting my assigned altitude would have been to declare an emergency and to land instead of continuing flight. However; given the power issues I was not comfortable with the current weather at my potential divert airport and looking at my on-board xm weather it appeared conditions were more favorable to the north. I'm currently working with my mechanic to better understand the induction icing issues specific to the cardinal rg aircraft and researching similar issues.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C177RG pilot reports a power loss while cruising at 12;000 FT in IMC and elects to continue to destination. Post flight reveals the engine air filter to be completely iced over.

Narrative: I was in cruise flight at 12;000 FT IMC with no evident airframe icing. I initially lost power and manifold pressure was restored to 10-15 inches by adjusting the mixture. My primary focus was flying the airplane and I likely violated altitude on a number of occasions for the duration of the flight. I did request and was assigned a block to help. However; there were occasions that I was flirting with the lowest assigned altitude to maintain flight. By continuing to manage mixture I was able to continue on and subsequently land at destination. Upon landing I discovered that my air filter was completely iced over in addition to other icing within the cowling. Again; there was no airframe icing. One option to avoid busting my assigned altitude would have been to declare an emergency and to land instead of continuing flight. However; given the power issues I was not comfortable with the current weather at my potential divert airport and looking at my on-board XM weather it appeared conditions were more favorable to the North. I'm currently working with my mechanic to better understand the induction icing issues specific to the Cardinal RG aircraft and researching similar issues.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

C177RG pilot reports a power loss while cruising at 12;000 ft in IMC and elects to continue to destination. Post flight reveals the engine air filter to be completely iced over.